It’s a Wonderful Life has always been one of my favorite movies. After all, it was the first film to awaken my interest in classic movies some years back. It helped me to fully realize that special effects, CGI and other aspects of modern day filmmaking do not significantly improve the overall story. They more or less only provide nicer looking sets and better looking explosions. Not only that, because of such developments, the actors’ performances have gone downhill since the focus is now so often on the quality of the effects instead of the effectiveness of the actors. In Frank Capra's It’s a Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart gives a moving performance as George Bailey, a man who discovers the real definition of what it is to be rich.

I particularly enjoy the life affirming message of the movie, as it shows us what it truly means to be alive, something that we all take for granted once in a while. Few movies have delivered this message as successfully as It’s a Wonderful Life. Shawshank Redemption comes to mind and maybe a few other Capra classics (You Can’t Take It With You, Lost Horizon to an extent).

Things to note: The movie originally bombed at the box office when it was released just before Christmas in December of 1946. America had just come home from the war and people were looking for happier stories. A movie that involved suicide and economic instability was hardly what the public was looking for. It wasn't until years later when the movie was discovered through television that viewers embraced it.

Another thing to note: The police officer and the taxi driver in the movie are named Bert and Ernie. Curiously, I’ve always wondered if this is what inspired the names of the Sesame Street characters. After doing a little research online, it appears that many other fans have wondered the same thing. A writer for Sesame Street has apparently said that this is just a coincidence, but many fans still aren't convinced.

Amen. People have been telling stories for ages and most of the good stories were told before we were born.

I really love this film too. Sure it is sentimental....but I'm a romantic. I haven't watched this yet this holiday season but I know I will.

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